Portable fence



No. 65,943. Patented Dpc. l3, I898. J. A. YOUNG & E. B. CABLE.

PORTABLE FENCE.

(Application filed June 22, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES AT FIQEQ.

JOHN A. YOUNG AND EDIVARD R. CABLE, OF GREENSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

PORTABLE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,943, dated December 13, 1898.

Application filed June 22, 1898. Serial No. 684,166- NO model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN A. YOUNG and EDWARD R. CABLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Greensborough, in the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fences; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to portable fences, and has for its object the production of a simple and inexpensive structure which possesses the advantage of being self-supporting in that posts, braces, and the like may be dispensed with, and in addition the fence-sections may be readily connected and disconnected with the minimum of labor and skill.

The nature of the invention is fully and clearly set forth in the following description, which is directed to the details of construction and which isto be read in connection with the'accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a fence embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the fencesections. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a different type of fence formed of the same sections. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fence, showing a modified form of fastening.

Referring to the said drawings by letter, A denotes a fence-section which consists of a number of parallel panels a a and upright slats b b, the latter being nailed or otherwise secured to the ends of the panels and preferably at each side of the latter, as shown. Other upright slats c c are secured at each side of the panels near one end, and certain of the panels are offset with relation to the others to provide between the slats b and c openings d d. In practice we prefer to employ sections made up of an odd number of panelssay five-and offset the second and fourth for a purpose to be presently explained. The panels are preferably equal in length, and in offsetting the second and fourth there are provided at the opposite ends projecting tongues e e. Each of the sections are constructed in accordance with the foregoing description-that is, each section is provided obtuse angle through the openings d of the next section, the result being a zigzag or snake fence which is self-supporting and.

requires no posts, knees, braces, or the like to preserve its upright position. The employment of an odd number of panels enables the sections to be joined to present alined panels, and the difficulties attending panels which ride on each other are thereby overcome. Any suitable means for securing the sections together may be employed; but we prefer to use strips f, which are nailed or otherwise secured to the tongues after the sections are assembled, as shown. It is preferable in practice after a length of fence has been erectedto exert a pulling action at the ends thereof and in that way obtain rigidity at the joints and incidentally lengthen the fence, as will be understood.

In Fig. 3 we have shown how with the same construction of section a straight fence may be erected. Such a fence will require to be supported at intervals by posts or the like, but will need no separate securing means for the joints, as the tongues e are in practice passed into and closely fit the openings 9 g, which are formed between the two outer slats b and the panels, as shown.

In Fig. 4: is shown a fence made up of sec tions constructed similarly to the above-described sections except that the second and fourth panels are slidably arranged between the upright slats and are reduced at one end to provide tongues h h and have perforations it near their other end. In practice these sections are assembled to form a zigzag or snake fence, and the parts are connected by passing the perforated ends through the openings d of the adjacent section and by then sliding the panels of said adjacent section to cause the reduced ends or tongues h to enter the perforations 11.

0 ur improved fence-sections can be cheaply constructed and, as above stated, can be put together by unskilled labor in a comparatively short time. One important advantage lies in the portability of the fence, it being an easy matter to disconnect the sections, transport them to another place, and reassemble them to provide a new inclosure of ground, and this without the necessity of providing posts or other similar means for supporting the sections in upright position.

The sections may be of any length and may have any desired number of panels, only it is preferable, as before stated, that the number be odd, as in this way the panels will be in alinement. The slats c, in addition to supporting the offset panels and providing bearings for the tongues of the adjacent sections, also serve as braces to preserve the rigidity of the sections.

We claim as our invention- 1. A portable self-supporting fence comprised of sections each of which is composed of parallel panels certain of which are offset to provide projecting tongues, upright slats 011 opposite sides of each end of the section,

and an upright slat at each side of the section at the inner end of the offset panels whereby the tongues of an adjacent section may be inserted in the openings between the pair of end slats to provide a straight fence, or may be inserted at an obtuse angle in the openings between said end slats and the inner slats, substantially as described.

2. A portable self-supporting fence c0mprised of sections, each of which is composed of upright slats, and fixed and movable panels, said movable panels having each atongue at one end and a perforation at the other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of witnesses.

JOHN A. YOUNG. EDYVARD R. CABLE. \Vitnesscs to Youngs signature:

J. S. COBB, T. M. SooTT. Vitnesses to Cables signature:

W. G. GREENE, E. P. LAND. 

